Why did the Americans use tanks in the Vietnam War?

Answer 1

US Marines always fight with COMBINED ARMS, meaning they always fight with infantry, tanks, and artillery together. When they landed in Vietnam in 1965, they naturally brought their tanks with them. Upon seeing this, US Politicians said to the Army, "...I thought you said that terrain wasn't suitable for tanks...?" The Army replied, "...we'll start sending some over..," US Tanks were outstanding in surviving land mine explosions, and machinegun bullets bounced off them just beautifully! South Vietnam is just like California; Rice fields in the Sacramento Valley (Mekong Delta in Vietnam), Sierra Nevada Mountains (Central Highlands in Vietnam), and large cities (Hue, Quang Tri, Da Nang, Tay Ninh, etc. in Vietnam). Tanks have gotten stuck in the mud in California during manuevers at Fort Ord, Fort Hunter-Liggett, Camp Pendleton, Camp Roberts, or even Fort Irwin. So anyone who says tanks can't operate in Vietnam...will have to say that tanks can't operate in California either.

Answer 2

One of the greatest roles of all. The first half (of the first half...because General Harkins was the first) of the Viet War was led by an AIRBORNE General; General Westmoreland, a paratrooper from WWII. So he gave armor (tanks) a low priority (while giving airborne and airmobile troops a high priority). Replacing him was Gen Creighton Abrams (namesake of today's M1 Abrams Main tattle Tank-MBT). Abram's fought in WWII (under Gen Patton); and he was an Armor Officer (tank officer). Gen Abrams ORDERED the brand new M551 Sheridan light tank (offically called the Armored Airborne Reconnaissance Assault Vehicle) directly into South Vietnam in January 1969...as soon as it was built (the Sheridan was designed and built in about 1965). The Sheridan fired the largest cannon ever mounted on a tank...a 152mm, a 6" gun. From 1969 until final deployment, every US Armored Cav squadron (or regiment) in South Vietnam was equipped with Sheridan tanks. Hundreds were destroyed in the war, because they fired caseless ammo and were built with the new space age technology of the 1960's...ALUMINUM! Well, caseless ammo caught fire easily...and aluminum burns and melts easily...so there went the Sheridans...but they were excellent tanks; fast, fired a big gun, reliable, and they could SWIM! The only US tank in the inventory that could cross a river without a snorkel system...regular US Patton tanks had to drive on the river's bottoms, using snorkels to breath.

The most common AFV (Armored Fighting Vehicle) of all was the M113 APC/ACAV (Armored Personnel Carrier/Armored Cavaly Assault Vehicle). This war machine was built in California in 1960 and was first fielded in Vietnam in 1961/62. IT IS STILL USED TODAY! More of these AFV's have been built than any other AFV in history. Not to give credit to television's "Military History Channel" which aired the "10 BEST IFV's IN HISTORY" (along with their series, "10 Best Bombers, 10 Best Fighters, 10 Best etc. etc.); not to credit to them because they are OFTEN not correct in their presentations; but rather, appear to be somewhat Politically Correct...at times, as well as flat out wrong...Examples: Calling a US Marine a soldier, or palm trees on the beaches of Normandy (obvious film splices from the Pacific War), calling a WWII Japanese destroyer a CRUISER, or just the opposite. Just a very small example of their inaccuracies. However, nonetheless, the M113 was rated the number "1" best out of 10 AFV's in history (not just US history, but the whole world's history). In this case, television's history/military channel was correct.

The US M48 all steel Patton tank was the last of the Patton series tanks to see combat, and was the primary battle tank of the US Army and Marine Corps in South Vietnam during the war. Armed with a 90mm main gun, 7.62mm coax, and .50, the 52 ton Patton conducted "Thunder Runs" (driving down a road with ALL guns firing) and took land mines extremely well; probably the best tank the US ever fielded...until the M1 Abrams came along. Nearly 600 Pattons served in Vietnam. They destroyed NVA PT76 Amphibious Light Tanks, and later, manned by ARVN crewmen, they knocked out NVA T-54/55 Soviet/Chicom suppled medium gunned tanks in tank to tank engagements. Today's anti-tank MISSILES like the SAGGERs and TOWs were FIRST used in Vietnam. Pattons and PT76 tanks were amongst the first victims of those two missiles during the Easter Offensive in South Vietnam in 1972.

The M60 was America's FIRST MBT (Main Battle Tank) and was fielded in 1960 as the M60 Combat Tank. The US Army was going to title it the MBT but the paperwork was already processed for "Combat Tank", so it was stuck with that name. M60 MBT's did NOT serve in the Vietnam War.

The ARVN Army was equipped with about 400 former US Army M41 Walker Bulldog Light Tanks. Those fired 76mm high velocity main guns. The ARVN's loved them! The Bulldog was comfortable for ARVN crewmen...and very UNCOMFORTABLE for US crewmen.

Answer 3

The Vietcong played the role of the opposition forces to American and South Vietnamese armies who sought to protect SVN from VC infiltration/influence from North Vietnam as well as indigenous insurgent forces recruited from SVN ~ see related link below .

Answer 4

because other wise if they didnt they couldent kill lewis long because he was blinding people with his 1 inch wonder